Saturday the 14th.

...or the day after as its more commonly known around my house, when we can resume normal routines and actually leave the house without fear we'll get run over, killed or a plane will crash into our faces. Not necessarily in that order.

We usually spend a great deal of time picking out what films to watch on this day of luckless horror, though, I'm not too sure where the "horror" came into it all? Its generally just supposed to be an unlucky day, but Friday the 13th is considered a lucky day in Italian culture, with 17th being the unlucky one. Strange right? Though I suppose it wouldn't have done the kids of Camp Crystal Lake any favours eh?

We have a sound selection of Horror films, in fact, probably every horror film you could think of, or name, we have. This makes for tough choices. Do you go traditional and play all the Jason films in order? Do you say screw it and put on Halloween totally sidestepping the actual "13th" lure? Or do you just throw on a romantic-comedy because your 31 year old girlfriend is scared Freddy Kruger will kill her while she sleeps? Like I said, tough choices.

There are ways round this of course, Monster Squad is a great choice or even Ghostbusters if the kids are up watching with you, you can still all enjoy the evening without resorting to blood, gore and nudity. Just dont show them the Hellraiser box or they'll beg you let them watch it and after you finally cave in, they'll spend the next week sleeping in your bed... with the light on.

Army of Darkness is, for me, the perfect choice of film for the 13th. A luckless loser, teleported to an ancient world of Horror where he must fight for his life against skeletons, gargoyles, evil twins and a she bitch witch, whilst trying to remember the words from an elaborate grimoire to return to his own time, all masterminded of course by Sam Raimi's & Bruce Campbell's comedic touches. Perfect. Best of both worlds. Luck, (or no luck as it were) Horror & Comedy. A sound evenings viewing to be had by all.

If you really want to go all out for it and you think you're up to the challenge of a full nights uninterrupted sleep, literally just put Friday the 13th on, just make sure if its your first viewing, you don't switch off before the camera pans out on that boat five seconds from the end. I'd tell you what happens, but, well, that would just give you the pleasure of a good nights slumber.

Sleep tight.

ifightthelivingdead.